Pet vehicle safety restraint device

ABSTRACT

A pet vehicle safety restraint device for protection of household animals, the device including a one piece molded base frame having a pet seating floor and a back panel, the pet seating floor and the back panel being in a substantially ninety degrees relationship to one another; a harnessing system designed to contain the upper torso of a pet and containing an adjustable and flexible chest band; and a first adjustable leash, a second adjustable leash and a third adjustable leash, the adjustable leashes connecting the harnessing system, and subsequently a pet, to the one piece molded frame wherein the one piece molded frame is ultimately connected to the vehicle by means of a vehicle seat belt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pet vehicle safety restraint devices are needed to provide safety forpets, vehicle occupants, pedestrians and other vehicles. Devicesgenerally tend to become portable for ease of installation and removalfrom the vehicle. The restraint devices must be comfortable for the pet,but at the same time provide a large degree of safety for the pets.Since pets do not sit in the same way as humans, there is a need for apet-friendly design that allows for use by various body sizes. Thussmall animals and rather larger animals can be restrained by use of thesame safety device.

Published Patent Application US 2006/0150922, published to Kroculick,relates to a portable pet transportation device, especially for mediumand large size pets. A thin, lightweight, rigid device rests on a seatof the vehicle, with a portion of the device snugly inserted between theseat and the backrest. A portion of the device extends over the footrestarea.

Published Patent Application US 2004/0182329, published to Kroculick,relates to a portable pet transportation device, especially for mediumand large size pets. A thin, lightweight, rigid device rests on a seatof the vehicle, with a portion of the device snugly inserted between theseat and the backrest. A portion of the device extends over the footrestarea.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,373, issued to O'Donnell, relates to a portable petbooster seat apparatus. It includes a base portion and wall portions. Aremovable and replaceable cover assembly is also disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,394, issued to Dickison, relates to an adjustableleash that incorporates a shock absorbing handle and an automaticallyreleasing wrist strap.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,235, issued to Larsen et al, relates to a petflotation aid and walker that includes a hollow top panel that containsa piece of internal foam flotation material. An adjustable belly strapis also disclosed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,892, issued to Edwards, relates to a vehicle safetyseat for pets that includes four relatively low walls surrounding acentral pet seating area. The walls extend upward from a storagecompartment situated below a removable pet seating floor. The rearwardportions of the side walls and the back wall can contain strap passagesand straps extending therefrom. The straps are attachable to a harnessor halter that is in turn secured about the upper torso of a pet. Whenproperly secured, the pet seat secures the pet in a positive fashion.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,541, issued to Thompson, relates to an easilytransportable pet restraint that keeps a pet within certain bounds in avehicle. It also serves to prevent injury to the pet in the event of avehicular accident. The pet is restrained with a harness having anadjustable flexible belly band, a flexible chest band that is joined tothe belly band, and a flexible collar joined to the chest band. A memberconnects the belly band and the collar at a clasp secured to the memberto join with existing seat belts in a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pet vehicle safety restraint device is hereby disclosed. The deviceprevents injury to a pet in case of a vehicular accident or an abruptstoppage of the vehicle. The device also prevents a pet from climbingthroughout the vehicle. The pet vehicle safety restraint devicecomprises a base frame, a harnessing system and two adjustable leashes.The base frame comprises a pet seating floor and a back panel. The petseating floor and back panel are in a substantially ninety degreesrelationship to one another. Preferably, the base frame comprises a onepiece molded unit. The back panel secures the restraint device byattachment with a vehicle seat belt. The pet seating floor has asubstantially centrally located first attachment means, and the backpanel has a substantially centrally located second attachment means.

The harnessing system is employed for containing an upper torso of apet. The harnessing system is substantially free of metal clips orbuckles. This makes it more comfortable for the pet. The harnessingsystem comprises an adjustable flexible chest band. The harnessingsystem further comprises a third attachment means located on anunderside of the chest band. There is also a fourth attachment meanslocated on the upperside of the chest band.

The first adjustable leash has a distal end and a proximal end. Theproximal end is closer to the base frame. The first leash is removablyattached to the back panel at the second attachment means. The firstleash is removably attached at the distal end to the collar band as by afourth attachment means.

The second adjustable leash has a distal end and a proximal end. Theproximal end of the second adjustable leash is closer to the base frame.The second leash is removably attached at its proximal end to the petseating floor at the first attachment means. The second leash isremovably attached at its distal end to the chest band as by a thirdattachment means.

When a pet is placed in the harness system, the harnessing system beingsecurely attached to the vehicle seat by means of the vehicle seatbelts, the pet is relatively safe from harm in case of an accident.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representation of a harnessing system of the presentinvention, the harnessing system having at least two attachment meansfor receiving leashes. The harnessing system is situated on a pet.

FIG. 2 is a representation of a pet vehicle safety restraint device ofthe present invention, the device comprising a base frame that comprisesa pet seating floor and a back panel. Both the back panel and the floorcontain an attachment means for receiving a leash.

FIG. 3 is a representation of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention. The harnessing system has three leashes attached to thesystem as by two attachment means. The harnessing system is situated ona pet.

FIG. 4 is a representation of an alternative embodiment for a petvehicle safety restraint device of the present invention, the devicecomprising a base frame that comprises a pet seating floor and a backpanel. The back panel contains an attachment means for receiving aleash; and the pet seating floor contains two attachment means forreceiving two leashes.

FIG. 5 is a representation of an embodiment of the present inventiondepicting a pet situated in the pet restraint device of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A pet vehicle safety restraint device is hereby disclosed. The devicecomprises: a base frame comprising a pet seating floor and a back panel,the floor and panel being in a substantially ninety degrees relationshipto one another; the base frame comprising a one piece molded unit. Theback panel secures the restraint device with a vehicle seat belt. Thebase frame comprises at least two apertures for receiving a vehicle seatbelt, the at least two apertures being located near the junction of theback panel and the pet seating floor. The pet seating floor has asubstantially centrally located first attachment means; and the backpanel has a substantially centrally located second attachment means. Thedevice further comprises: a harnessing system for containing an uppertorso of a pet; the harnessing system being substantially free of metalclips or buckles. The harnessing system comprises an adjustable flexiblechest band. The harnessing system further comprises a third attachmentmeans located on an underside of the chest band, and a fourth attachmentmeans located on the upperside of the chest band.

The device further comprises a first adjustable leash having a distalend and a proximal end. The first leash is removably attached at itsproximal end to the back panel at the second attachment means. The firstleash is removably attached at its distal end to the chest band as bythe fourth attachment means. The device further comprises a secondadjustable leash having a distal end and a proximal end. The secondleash is removably attached at its proximal end to the pet seating floorat the first attachment means. The second leash is removably attached atits distal end to the chest band as by the third attachment means.

In a preferred embodiment, the one piece molded unit comprises anextrusion molded thermoplastic material. Preferably, the first, second,third and fourth attachment means are metal loops or plastic loops. Theadjustable flexible band comprises hook and loop fastening means(Velcro).

The adjustable flexible chest band further comprises a member selectedfrom the group consisting of: nonwoven synthetic material, wovensynthetic material, and woven natural material. The adjustable flexibleband further comprises a padding material that substantially covers atleast one side of the bands. The side that is covered by the paddingmaterial is the side that contacts the skin of the pet. Padding materialcan be selected from materials such as synthetic foam material such asfoamed polyurethane, and natural fibers such as cotton.

The base frame of the device comprises apertures for receiving thevehicle seat belt. The vehicle seat belt can be looped through the baseframe and then locked in order to secure the pet vehicle safetyrestraint device. Preferably, the apertures are located near thejunction of the back panel and the pet seating floor.

A method for securing a pet into a seat of a vehicle is herebydisclosed. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a pet vehiclesafety restraint device; placing the device on a seat of the vehicle,wherein the pet seating floor rests on the seat of the vehicle; loopinga seat belt of the vehicle through apertures in the pet vehicle safetydevice; and fastening the seat belt to secure the device to the vehicleseat. A pet, which is member selected from the group consisting of a dogand a cat, can then be placed into the harnessing system of the device.The flexible bands of the harnessing device are then adjusted tosubstantially secure the pet within the harnessing system. The petvehicle safety restraint device comprises a base frame comprising a petseating floor and a back panel The pet seating floor and back panel arein a substantially ninety degrees relationship to one another. The baseframe comprises a one piece molded unit. Preferably, the one piecemolded unit comprises an extrusion molded thermoplastic material.

The method further comprises employing a pet seating floor that has asubstantially centrally located first attachment means, and a back panelthat has a substantially centrally located second attachment means. Thebase frame comprises at least two apertures for receiving a vehicle seatbelt. The two apertures are located near the junction of the back paneland the pet seating floor. The apertures can be on the pet seating flooror on the back panel.

The method further comprises employing a harnessing system forcontaining an upper torso of a pet is also disclosed. The harnessingsystem is substantially free of metal closure devices such as metalclips and metal belt buckles. Further, the harnessing system comprisesan adjustable flexible chest band. A third attachment means is locatedon the underside of the chest band, and a fourth attachment means islocated on the upperside of the chest band. A first adjustable leash;which has a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being closerto the base frame; is removably attached at the proximal end to the backpanel at the second attachment means. The first leash is removablyattached at the distal end to the chest band as by the fourth attachmentmeans. A second adjustable leash; which has a distal end and a proximalend, the proximal end being closer to the base frame; is removablyattached at the proximal end to the pet seating floor at the firstattachment means. Further, the second leash is removably attached at thedistal end to the chest band as by the third attachment means.

It is within the scope of the present invention to have more than twoattachment means on the base frame. It is possible to have asubstantially triangular pet restraint means by placing two attachmentmeans on the pet seating floor and one attachment means on the backpanel. The two floor attachments are spaced apart, as they arepreferably positioned near the sides of the seating floor. In thealternative, the two attachment means can be positioned on the backpanel, the attachment means being preferably positioned near the sidesof the back panel; and a third attachment means is positioned insubstantially the center of the pet seating floor.

Referring to FIG. 1, a harnessing system of the present invention isrepresented. The system comprises an adjustable flexible chest band 2comprising a substantially circular upper torso band 4 and a collar band6, wherein the collar band 6 is directly attached to the upper torsoband 4 as by sewing or the like. A first attachment means 8 ispositioned on the upperside of the flexible chest band 2. A secondattachment means 10 is positioned on the underside of the flexible chestband 2. A first leash 24 is attached as by attachment means 8 to theharnessing system; and a second leash 28 is attached as by attachmentmeans 10 to the harnessing system. A and B represent points ofattachment for leash 24 and leash 28, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 2, a base frame 12 of the present invention isrepresented. The base frame 12 comprises a back panel 16 and a petseating floor 14. A first attachment means 20 is located substantiallyin the middle of the back panel 16. It is within the scope of thepresent invention to situate the attachment means 20 at other locationson the back panel 16. A first leash 24 is attached as by attachmentmeans 20 to the base frame 12. A second leash 28 is attached as byattachment means 22 to the base frame 12. Apertures 18 are located nearthe junction of back panel 16 and pet seating floor 14. The apertures 18are useful for receiving a seat belt of the vehicle. When the seat beltis fastened, the base frame 12 is secured to a seat of the vehicle. Aand B represent points of attachment for leash 24 and leash 28,respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3, a harnessing system of an alternative embodiment ofthe present invention is represented. The harnessing system comprises anadjustable flexible chest band 2 comprising a substantially circularupper torso band 4 and a collar band 6, wherein the collar band 6 isdirectly attached to the upper torso band 4 as by sewing or the like. Afirst attachment means 8 is positioned on the upperside of the flexiblechest band 2. A second attachment means 10 is positioned on theunderside of the flexible chest band 2. A first leash 24 is attached asby attachment means 8 to the harnessing system. A second leash 30 isattached as by attachment means 10 to the harnessing system. A thirdleash 38 is attached as by attachment means 10 to the harnessing system.A, C and D represent points of attachment for leash 24, leash 30 andleash 38, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 4, a base frame 12 of the present invention isrepresented. The base frame 12 comprises a back panel 16 and a petseating floor 14. A first attachment means 20 is located substantiallyin the middle of the back panel 16. It is within the scope of thepresent invention to situate the attachment means 20 at other locationson the back panel 16. A first leash 24 is attached as by attachmentmeans 20 to the base frame 12. A second leash 30 is attached as byattachment means 42 to the base frame 12. A third leash 38 is attachedas by attachment means 52 to the base frame 12. Apertures 18 are locatednear the junction of back panel 16 and pet seating floor 14. Theapertures 18 are useful for receiving a seat belt of the vehicle. Whenthe seat belt is fastened, the base frame 12 is secured to a seat of thevehicle. A, C and D represent points of attachment for leash 24, leash30 and leash 38, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 5, a pet 50 is situated in the pet vehicle safetyrestraint device of the present invention. The device includes aharnessing system for the pet 50 containing a substantially circularupper torso band 4 and a collar band 6, wherein the collar band 6 isdirectly attached to the upper torso band 4 as by sewing or the like.The pet 50 is placed within the harnessing system. A first attachmentmeans 8 is positioned on the upperside of the upper torso band 4. Asecond attachment means 10 is positioned on the underside of the uppertorso band 4. A first leash 24 is attached as by attachment means 8 tothe upper torso band 4. A second leash 30 is attached as by attachmentmeans 10 to the upper torso band 4. A third leash 38 is attached as byattachment means 10 to the upper torso band 4. The device furtherincludes a base frame containing a back panel 16 and a pet seating floor14. A first attachment means 20 is located substantially in the middleof the back panel 16. It is within the scope of the present invention tosituate the attachment means 20 at other locations on the back panel 16.A first leash 24 is attached as by attachment means 20 to the back panel16. A second leash 30 is attached as by attachment means 42 to the petseating floor 14. A third leash 38 is attached as by attachment means 52to the pet seating floor 14. Apertures 18 are located near the junctionof back panel 16 and pet seating floor 14. The apertures 18 are usefulfor receiving a seat belt of the vehicle. When the seat belt isfastened, the base frame is secured to a seat of the vehicle.

While the invention has been described by specific examples andembodiments, there is no intent to limit the inventive concept except asset forth in the following claims.

1. A pet vehicle safety restraint device consisting of: (a) a one piecemolded base frame consisting of a pet seating floor and a back panel,wherein the pet seating floor and the back panel are in a substantiallyninety degrees relationship to one another, wherein the back panelcontains a first attachment means, the first attachment means beingsubstantially centrally located on the back panel; wherein the petseating floor contains a second attachment means and a third attachmentmeans, the second attachment means being located on one side of the petseating floor and the third attachment means being located on the otherside of the pet seating floor; wherein the one piece molded base framefurther contains at least two apertures for receiving a vehicle seatbelt, the at least two apertures being located substantially near thejunction of the pet seating floor and the back panel; (b) a harnessingsystem wherein the harnessing system is designed to contain the uppertorso of a pet and wherein the harnessing system consists of anadjustable and flexible chest band having an upperside and an underside,wherein the adjustable and flexible chest band contains a fourthattachment means and a fifth attachment means, the fourth attachmentmeans being located substantially on the underside of the adjustable andflexible chest band, and the fifth attachment means being locatedsubstantially on the upperside of the chest band; and (c) a firstadjustable leash, a second adjustable leash and a third adjustableleash; wherein the first adjustable leash removably connects the firstattachment means to the fifth attachment means; the second adjustableleash removably connects the second attachment means to the fourthattachment means, and the third attachment leash removably connects thethird attachment means to the fourth attachment means.